Elgin City Football Club appoint Keiran Carty as the Borough Briggs club's first general manager in their 127-year history
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KEIRAN Carty says he aims to continue developing and improving Elgin City's financial position as the club's first-ever general manager.
The 26-year-old, from Lossiemouth, moves up from his position as club secretary and accountant to take responsibility for a wide range of functions across the club.
Carty will be entrusted with expanding City's commercial, administrative and operational ventures in the new position.
He will also oversee the Black and Whites' burgeoning community and youth football programme.
"I'm delighted to be appointed as general manager," said Carty, who joined Elgin five years ago as a trainee accountant.
"I would like to thank directors for giving me the opportunity at such a young age."
“I’m delighted to take up a wider role in the club as we strive to achieve success on and off the field.
"We’ve made great progress on both in recent years and I hope to continue this in the years to come."
Carty has been heavily involved in bringing some of the club's commercial business into the digital era.
He has helped to gain a 30 per cent increase in sponsorship and brought sales of City's Joma team merchandising online.
Taking the club's City Saver monthly draw online has transformed minimal profit into an annual £20,000 gain.
Fans can interact more than ever through social media and live streaming of matches, which was particularly useful during the pandemic when matches were played behind closed doors.
"It’s been about building relationships with the community as much as we can," he said.
"We have changed the way the club looks at things, taking it from an old school mentality to a modern way which everyone is having to do these days.
"One aim is to continue working with local businesses and get more on board. We have nearly 100 advertising boards around the perimeter, which is fantastic.
"Our merchandise turnover has tripled in the last two seasons since we signed with Joma and built our online shop.
"In our community department, Craigh Stewart has done a fantastic job growing this where we now have camps all across Moray, seeing to up to 300 young persons every week.
"We now have ten young teams in our Academy seeing to 150-200 kids aged nine all the way up to 18.
Carty highlighted the impact of Elgin City's festive initiatives.
"This year we will deliver between 450 and 500 three-course Christmas lunches to all care homes and sheltered housing areas in Elgin and Lossiemouth.
"We have fundraised £1000 for Cash for Kids Christmas Appeal.
"We aim to deliver 100 Christmas-themed hampers to NHS and Dr Gray's hospital wards in build up to Christmas.
"We get an amazing support from local businesses and the SPFL Trust which makes this possible and we aim to grow on this every year.
Carty added that departing Academy manager Robbie Hope, who leaves this month to take up a new position with the Elgin Sports Community Trust, did a fantastic job over many years and leaves the Academy in a strong position.
He said Elgin City overcame the challenges during the pandemic and anticipate a bright future.
"The club is definitely in a stable position financially for going forward, considering the difficult 18 months we have all been through,"
"We have to say thank you to all our sponsors, supporters and staff for making this all possible."
He paid tribute to the hard work of club chairman Graham tatters and fellow director Cecil Jack over manay years.
And he said he has learned a great deal from Isla Benzie and Grant Shewan, two more recent additions to the club boardroom.
Tatters said: "Keiran is a great asset to the club with his commercial and financial acumen.
"I’m confident he can continue to build on the great work he has done in recent years."
Carty will work in Elgin City's commercial office alongside assistant secretary Alison Singer, who joined the club in August.
